Wikipedia:Talk page templates

To try to ensure some level of design consistency throughout Wikipedia, the talk page templates page explains how general talk page templates should appear. This standardisation is sometimes referred to as the "coffeeroll style", the proposal leading to this look. (See Template standardisation/vote.) This style can be implemented using the tmbox template.

A list of such templates can be found at Template messages/Talk namespace and Category:Talk header templates

Talk page templates contain information intended for editors, not readers. Which templates on Wikipedia are actually Talk page templates is a matter for some debate. For example, the cleanup template was originally created to be a talk page template, but is currently being used primarily as an article page template. Apparently, the notion in this case is that readers deserve to know that the article they are reading is still somewhat of a mess.

Chosen scheme
This scheme is to be used for all talk page templates. This scheme was accepted based on a vote. While this is not a firm policy, it is advised that any new talk page templates should be based on the standard design.

The following standards of design have been chosen:
 * Background colour of #F8EABA and border colour (1px solid) is #C0C090 . If the message is more important or is related to deletion, a yellow, orange, or red border activated by the "style", "content", "delete", or "speedy" classes can be used.
 * Use of a table, not divs, and using generally two columns: one for an image, one for the text
 * The side margins are (minimally) 10%—the width is what is left (usually 80%).
 * There is no cell spacing.
 * The margin separating the templates is 4px.
 * The text is usually left-aligned. (Short texts can be center-aligned.)
 * A picture, if one is used, is left aligned and about 40–50 pixels in width.

The style should be implemented using tmbox:

Small option
A small option can be provided for talk page templates using tmbox, generating a smaller, right-aligned message box.

The small option is intended for controversial or highly public articles with numerous peer review, WikiProject, featured article, good article, to-do, and other message boxes. With this many boxes, individual notices no longer stand out, and all that remains is a massive block of templates (as in this revision of Talk:Pope Benedict XVI) that a reader has to scroll through in order to reach the body of the page. Because the small message boxes float on the right, the contents of the talk page start at the top. This feature is not intended to replace standard message boxes.

Example
Standard message boxes

Small message boxes

Further use
Long text may also be shortened to reduce the height of the narrower message boxes. For example, consider reducing
 * This article has been rated as A-Class on the quality scale.

to
 * Quality: A-Class

when  is enabled.

Examples in action

 * Talk:TGV
 * Talk:Leonardo da Vinci
 * Talk:Islam